Each year, HHE awards the Welsh-Bowen Distinguished Public Official Award to up to two elected officials of any level of government who have made significant contributions to higher education and Indiana University. The award is accompanied by a $500 scholarship given in the recipients' names to a constituent IU student attending any Indiana University campus. The award recipients are announced each year at the annual HHE Statehouse Visit.

The award is named for two former governors of the great state of Indiana, Otis "Doc" Bowen and Matthew Welsh. In 1991, these distinguished public officials endorsed the recognition by lending their names to the award.

Nominate a public official for this award.

Congratulations to the 2007 recipients of the Welsh-Bowen Distinguished Public Official Award: State Senator David Ford of Hartford City and Past Director of the Office of Management and Budget at the Statehouse Charles "Chuck" Schalliol of Indianapolis.

Past Recipients